Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Exactly, we aren't far off, we can do it, but we have to go on a bloody good run now.
Amazing to think that if wed beaten Carlisle and Shrewsbury at home wed be 3 points off the top
Amazing to think that if wed beaten Carlisle and Shrewsbury at home wed be 3 points off the top
If we could defend corners we would be few points off automatic
More to the point if we could defend we would. It's the one area that still remains questionable. We do not have a strong defence. Other than Adams you could easily replace them all.
More to the point if we could defend we would. It's the one area that still remains questionable. We do not have a strong defence. Other than Adams you could easily replace them all.
Amazing to think that if wed beaten Carlisle and Shrewsbury at home wed be 3 points off the top
We most certainly do not have a strong defence.
Do believe there have been a few people on here who have been saying we do.
1. Tranmere 27 goals against
2. Doncaster 27 goals against
3. Bournemouth 39 goals against
4. Swindon 26 goals against
5. Brentford 30 goals against
6. Sheff Utd. 28 goals against
City 39 goals against.
Think our defence is definitely a weak spot for us.
Even more telling when you factor in clean sheets -
1. Tranmere 27 goals against 13 clean sheets 43.3% clean sheets.
2. Doncaster 27 goals against 11 clean sheets 37.9% clean sheets.
3. Bournemouth 39 goals against 8 clean sheets 26.6% cleansheets
4. Swindon 26 goals against 15 clean sheets 51.7% cleansheets
5. Brentford 30 goals against 10 clean sheets 34.4% cleansheets
6. Sheff Utd. 28 goals against 11 cleansheets 37.9% cleansheets
Cov 39 goals against 5 cleansheets 16.1% cleansheets.
If we win all our games we have 92 points which may not be enough.
I agree. Very slim chance of the top 2.
We most certainly do not have a strong defence.
Do believe there have been a few people on here who have been saying we do.
1. Tranmere 27 goals against
2. Doncaster 27 goals against
3. Bournemouth 39 goals against
4. Swindon 26 goals against
5. Brentford 30 goals against
6. Sheff Utd. 28 goals against
City 39 goals against.
Think our defence is definitely a weak spot for us.
Defence can be overrated.
Since Robins came in, CCFC have scored 44 goals to 26 conceded. That is a 1.69 ratio.
To give some comparison, the team in first place, Tranmere, have a ratio of 1.70.
So a leaky defence really doesn't matter if the team is scoring plenty of goals. Sometimes a manager is prepared to sacrifice some defence for the sake of goals, whether it's tactical or just more focus on offence at the training ground.
...we've also conceded a lot of goals from set peices which is nothing to do with sacrificing defense for attack.
We have scored a lot of goals, howeve we have to because we concede 84% of games. If we misfire in front of goal we lose, because we nearly always concede.
It can be in any number of ways: Robins spends more time on offence than defence on the training ground; Robins chooses to distribute his transfer funds to the favour of the attack, etc.
Football is not a game of perfection, though. You don't have teams who score bags of goals and concede none throughout the season. It really is just about the goals for/goals against ratio, which is already good, and can be refined in the future. The surest and easiest way to do that is to upgrade the positions with new players, rather than bust a gut on the training field.
You can score goals and be tight at the back - the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Swindon, Tranmere and Doncaster have managed it, Man U, man city and Chelsea have managed it, Leicester and Cardiff have managed it, port vale, Gillingham and Southend are managing.
Yep we're scoring goals, but a third of the 44 came in 3 games.
And it's not just about the amount we've concede and cleansheets, it's the amount of clearcut chances we allow the opposition to created - Oldham is a prime example, the had 3 one-on-ones. We're lucky this league is so poor.
That's a straw man argument. I didn't suggest they were mutually exclusive.
A rather erratic selection. CCFC's goal ratio (1.69 in the Robins era) is better than or equal to Swindon (1.48), Doncaster (1.59), Leicester (1.70) and Tranmere (1.70 - and top of our table).
It doesn't really matter. There might be the odd outlier here and there, but the broader point is that over the course of a season it is teams with a surging goals ratio which will be up there at the higher end of the table.
Luck has nothing to do with it. This defence would get murdered by Premier League opposition on a regular basis; but then, one would assume that the defence would be significantly upgraded if that situation were to occur. This defence is solid enough for this league.
It's not really an erratic selection, they are all top 3-4 teams in their leagues. It's comparable because we're talking about robins' tenure in which our form is in top 3-4 for that period.
I would argue that the defensive is an average league one defence which is being masked but the exploits of an above average league one attack.
A simple projection: 15 matches left x 1.83 pt = 27.45pt added to our current total (47) = 74-75 points. Which should be enough for play off.
I would argue that the defensive is an average league one defence
If we somehow get promoted, We will struggle next season with this back four.
You cited those teams not because of league position, but because they were 'scoring goals and tight at the back'. Yet CCFC's goal ratio is right up there among them. That's the broader point I'm trying to make - we're doing CCFC a disservice by picking away at the defence. The team is comfortably among the best in the league, and is no more flawed than most of the teams we hold in high regard.
Very true. Someone's clubs have performed well against premier clubs in the cup this season. In our two outings the defence has been hammered. Christie and more disappointingly Clark have not made progress. I expected more of wood but I suppose given he was yet another product of the Coleman / thorn school of signings why should I have. Edjiungele may be ok with a better defender (Cranie as an example) but he and wood are a poor combination.
Are you implying Edj is a better defender than Wood?
In fairness to Clarke and Christie, both have had really bad injuries in the last 2 season, it's bound to hamper development.
Never been too keen on 2 left footed CBs, but if I had to drop 1 defender, it has to be Edj.
Swindon have scored 50 goals and conceded 20 which gives a ratio of 2.5A rather erratic selection. CCFC's goal ratio (1.69 in the Robins era) is better than or equal to Swindon (1.48), Doncaster (1.59), Leicester (1.70) and Tranmere (1.70 - and top of our table).
We have one of the best teams on the league, yes, but, our defence is bottom half! We concede too many and the best, and purest example I can pick out is v PNE, both goals were terrible to concede, Edj is an easy target for teams, Matt Smith bullied him, King (PNE) bullied him, he's below average in our team.
Edj is by far the most overrated player in our team, he gets worshipped like a god yet he makes the most mistakes and quite frankly, I think he should be dropped.
There's been a lot of attention on Christie and Clarke, but they aren't the problem, Edj can't handle teams who cross the ball or pump it upfield, Wood is a lot better, but still, not worth his wages IMO. Blair Adams and the 2 RBs are our best defenders, then Wood. It's a shame Reece Brown was piss poor.
The only 1 that looks remotely good enough for the championship is Adams. I agree wood has been very disappointing, but then again he has been 3-4th choice centre back in the previous 2 seasons in the championship.
And Clarke and Christies progress has been limited this season.
Edge isn't great either.
Clark I have supported bit we have dropped a league and his performances have dropped with it. Christie also has been poor and gets off lightly with supporters. Oddly Clarke has only ever played well when thorn managed the team. What that says I really don't know.
I think Christie and Clarke could step up, they did well (ish) last season.
Even Adams gets skinned sometimes too much.
He's our best defender though.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?